But Foxes expect star to stay put
Leicester City will demand £45million from any club wanting to buy Riyad Mahrez this summer, but are still confident the forward will stay at the King Power Stadium.
Mahrez will cost any interested parties a huge fee because the champions believe his market value should be determined by the £49m Manchester City paid for Raheem Sterling last summer. And unlike Kanté, the Algeria winger does not have a release clause written into his contract.
The 25-year-old has been offered a new deal that could earn him up to £100,000 a week and the Algeria international is yet to give any indications that he will not sign it. Leicester’s stance is also hardened by the fact he has three years left on his present deal and was one of last season’s stand-out players, scoring 17 goals to help the club lift the title.
Leicester are stepping up contract talks with other key personnel, including manager Claudio Ranieri, England midfielder Danny Drinkwater and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Other Departures for Foxes
Kanté completed his £30m move to Chelsea over the weekend and Ranieri is refusing to become downbeat about the departure of the France midfielder.
“The loss of one important player is reasonable,” he said. “I was hoping that everyone would stick with us and listen to my advice, which was to live together the adventure of the Champions League, then everyone could go their own way the next summer. But I understand that a club like Chelsea can’t leave you indifferent.”
One player that won’t be leaving this summer is striker Jamie Vardy. Despite being courted by Arsenal for a few weeks, he signed a new contract keeping him in a Leicester shirt for another 5 years.
By Ben Kelly – @benkelly_10
